Project GROW

Build it and they will come! (warning, this one is long because it covers two busy days...sorry)
In an earlier blog I wrote about the excitement the community felt around the possibility for adult education. Yesterday (Wednesday) we witnessed just how enthusiastic they were about getting on with it. The original intention was to spend the next few days in formal interviews with small groups to identify adult learning needs, but they were so eager to get started that we decided to dispense with the formalities and instead offer a couple of sessions to allow all of those interested a chance to participate in an adult learning opportunity. During those sessions we would incorporate the interview questions that were planned so that we still had our answers, but so that they also had a learning experience. I have begun to wish, in spite of few discomforts and frustrations (heat, humidity, lack of sleep, air conditioning issues, internet problems, giant spiders to get my heart rate up, missing Jim to name just a few) I could stay another month to really get this off the ground.

Armed with slates and chalk that Josbert picked up in the market, and some writing supplies that Jan had brought over from Canada, we headed out to the village to get started. The plan was to teach the adults to write their name, something that is empowering, and that was mentioned during our first meeting by virtually all the participants. Also, learning to recognize, spell and print one’s name is a powerful thing that can be accomplished in a very short time. We decided to begin with capital letters because the motor skills of many of our participants were not at the level to hold a pencil, and the lack of quality of both slate and chalk would have made it difficult to manage the small case letters. Older adults often begin writing their name in capitals because the letters are easier to form.

We were met by a large crowd, although the first group would only include 12 (we only had 12 slates). They understood we could not accommodate them all but they wanted to hear how the program would work, and then they would agree amongst themselves who would go first. That took some time since they ALL wanted to go first, but in typical Ghanaian fashion they sorted it out patiently! Our 12 participants selected, we got on with the discussion and learning activity. Through the informal interview discussion they gave us many reasons why they wanted to learn; to read a personal letter addressed to themselves, to recognize a date or an appointment, such as the date their public health service would run out. They wanted to read signs, to understand money in written, rather than only in its physical form. It was a long, and moving list.

We began the lesson, going over each name, writing it on the top of the slate, and let them go at it. It was amazing, touching, inspiring. The room was buzzing, children were peeking through every window, and those who were not participating found every excuse to pass by the school at least a dozen times on some kind of errand. In the end people just started to come in to watch. I planned an hour and a half because it is farming season and I know that the women especially, have many obligations and responsibilities so we did not want to keep them from what needed doing. I didn’t bargain on the level of enthusiasm though and it was over 4 hours before they finally let us go.

Once we had the name written in capitals, so that they could see quick progress we went on to teach them the full alphabet. We asked them to come up to the alphabet and spell their name. Most accomplished this in the first try!. Eventually some of their offspring came in to watch their parents write their names, making suggestions. As I also mentioned in a previous blog, there is a group of university students here in the village doing their 7 week research project and they were quite eager to join in and help so we invited them to meet with us prior to the lesson to give them an overview on adult education from a transformative learning perspective. They arrived late which was unfortunate, and which I will explain later in this blog.

A bit about functional adult education: it should not represent children’s learning and should appear different in as many ways as possible. In these types of literacy programs, one of the main reasons adults give up is because they despair being able to catch up to their children. That is why most adult literacy and community development programs are often conducted in different formats than a traditional school classroom. This session is based on the Reflect Action Aid,model and presents learning programs based on the learners’ individual realities; they are farmers, goat herds, petty traders, etc. so we build a vocabulary around those roles. Most have never held a pen before, so we begin with chalk and slate to get them used to forming letters. Motor skills take time to learn, especially among the older participants, so capitals are easier for the first printed project.

We used the school, because it was a national holiday, and because it has a blackboard and is the only place where people can gather that has a place to write,; not ideal but we made it work. The proposed community centre that is the next ong term step for project GROW will address this issue will be built between both the first village involved and the new one so that both communities can access it.

The university students arrived late, as I mentioned, and joined in to help. Their enthusiasm was wonderful, and because they have made themselves part of village life, they will be able to carry the learning on much further than we can. That said…there were issues. They missed the meeting with me to outline the whole premise of adult education and questioned our use of slates, and capital letters. We offered them a chance to step up and the program immediately retracted to an elementary school lesson and rote learning. We didn't say much because the learners were unstoppable and very happy to stay as long and learn as much as possible. Four hours after we began, people were still going strong and we had to break it up. We had moved them from slate and chalk to their own notebook and pencil to take home and it was great to see each one of them write their name on the notebook. Talk about a fast, and wonderful, breakthrough! When I introduced the program to the village, I told them that we would have them writing their name before we left Ghana,and would introduce them to a vocabulary that would use words that they needed to know for everyday life. When I also told them that two of the words would be Welcome Vida, the room exploded into joy and clapping and one of the villagers who was not in the twelve first students stayed because she only wanted to see the words welcome Vida. She could wait for her own signature. Vida, they are going to be so happy to see you and proud to be able to welcome you in writing. I intended that to be a surprise for Vida, but speaking with her on the phone tonight, I found out that she will not be able to join us in Ghana because the passport will not be ready until June 16th. Heartbreaking, sad, disappointing as it is for me, I can only imagine her frustration so I shared today’s success with her in a phone call and let her know this important goal of the learners!

We go back on Saturday for lesson 2 but we will be meeting with the university students ahead of time. This adult learning program is something that Vida and I have planned for a long time, it is her vision and her desire to see it on the ground and so I think a short overview of project GROW, adult education philosophy, transformative learning and other adult learning theory is essential. The University students are very excited to be part of the project so we want to be sure that they understand that we are working with adults with specific needs. We had a short meeting after the class and they got a better sense of what we are doing; we’ll discuss it further on Saturday.

Since the theme of the whole lesson was around names, our final moments with the participants were centered on them naming their learning program. At the beginning of the day, I asked them to think of a name that reflected how they felt about their program. They gave it some thought and came up with ‘Happiness’ because that is how they feel about the chance to learn, and ‘it is not too late’ which I think expresses beautifully the confidence and optimism they feel about this opportunity. It was a wonderful day.

Exhausted and satisfied, we packed up and headed back. Victorious as we felt, Ghana has a way of offering challenge after challenge and putting you firmly back to square one! We got back to town, went to a fast food outlet where it took an hour and a half for Jan’s pizza to be made, Josbert and I were long finished by the time it got there so she brought it home (I would hate to see slow food!). We came in and my air conditioner wasn’t working, and my room was 35 degrees and humid. I jumped in the shower, lukewarm because it is hard to get cold water here, and then went to get a change of clothes. The cupboard where my clothes are kept was locked, but in the heat and humidity the woodhad swollen so I couldn’t get it open to find clean ones. I then thought at least I can go online and blog our wonderful adult education experience but the modem decided not to work. My phone was out of minutes so couldn’t call home (super cheap actually) . Finally I just decided to go to sleep. Just as I was dropping off a giant spider, and I do mean giant!) scampered across my ceiling. I chased it with shoes for 10 minutes, then gave up, had another quick shower to cool back down. After sternly telling the spider to stay in its corner, I went to sleep. So, for every success there is ALWAYS something to bring you back to earth here. Still, all it takes is one of those warm smiles and it is all worth while. They are beautiful, friendly people who can teach us much about patience and who laugh and sing and celebrate life on any excuse.

Today it was back to the village again, this time to visit school children. We took oranges for them, many have never had a fresh orange. They scarfed them down and we shared the leftovers with some of the women who were nearby, as well as with the men who were working on the next school building. Yes, they need to double the school because enrolment is way up.

That, my friends, is the real impact of Project GROWl There is now more opportunity for education and it is happening.

Friday is the final buying day so we will be running around the markets doing all kinds of purchases; can’t wait. Jan and I are also going to out to see James and get some baskets to sell as a fundraiser for the community centre… Saturday is lesson 2, Sunday is a Rotary meeting; Cynthia is a Rotarian and we are going to share the community centre plans with them. Tuesday and Wednesday are presentation days so all your goats, donkeys, nets and other items will be delivered. Then by Friday we leave for Tamale (since Vida is not coming Tamale will be part of our homeward journey) and then we fly back to Accra. The end is in sight, but there is much to do. Stay tuned.

missing everyone
Cindy